IMAGE: Glove Love (Detail), Carol Strock Wasson, CPP-M, 18 x 26, Soft Pastel

strokiN‘ VIII !OPEN ONLINE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

EIGHTH BIENNIAL MEMBER JURIED EXHIBITION

CHICAGO PASTELPAINTERS

CHICAGO PASTELPAINTERS

strokiN‘ VIII !

For more information: www.ChicagoPastelPainters.org

CELEBRATION & AWARD CEREMONY

Sunday, September 20, 2020

OPEN ONLINE TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2020

EIGHTH BIENNIAL MEMBER JURIED EXHIBITION

Artistically yours,EXHIBITION CHAIR,

Mike Barret Kolasinski, CPP-M

ABOUT THE SHOW

2020 – a year of vision. Wow, that’s a statement. It has been a year for the books nevertheless. The Chicago Pastel Painters has stepped up and managed to still keep an exhibition in the public eye, even though it’s a virtual show. And the one who’s shouldered most of the work with her vision was Tatijana, our tireless President who pushed for this virtual show to go beyond what other societies were doing. Without her leadership, this exhibit doesn’t happen. So we present our Eighth Biennial Member Juried Exhibition online. For this year’s exhibit, there were 157 pastel works submitted by 55 members, hailing from around the country. Our outstanding Juror, Mat Barber Kennedy, had the difficult task of choosing from these submissions, and he honored us with selecting 50 paintings from 32 artists. To our esteemed Judge, Aron Packer, fell the formidable task of awarding those accepted artists that are deserving of special merit. We want to express our deep appreciation for a job well done. We offer our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and donors for their gracious generosity. Additional thanks goes to Evelyn for her persistent efforts in securing our cash and merchandise awards, to Dotty for her expertise in the beautiful catalog design, and to Randy Karey, our Webmaster for setting up our virtual gallery stroll that puts this exhibit above the rest. But most of all, I want to thank the artists who submitted their masterpieces for review, the artists who had their masterpieces accepted, and the patrons who experience this visual delight. Enjoy!

CHICAGO PASTELPAINTERS

A society of professional artists dedicated to the promotion and

exhibition of the medium of pastel in the Chicagoland area.

www.ChicagoPastelPainters.org

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

–tatijanaCPP PRESIDENT Tatijana Jacenkiw, CPP-M

JUROR OF SELECTIONS JUDGE OF AWARDS

-5--4-

The Chicago Pastel Painters welcomes everyone to our 8th Biennial Member Juried Exhibition, Strokin’ VIII! In order to accommodate our members, who live throughout the vast expanse of the Chicago metropolitan area and to share our love of pastel and its diversity, we continually sought new locations and communities for our exhibitions. 2020 has turned out to be a different year for all of us, and in order to continue our tradition of exhibiting the work in gallery settings but still stay safe, we turned to the internet – where we discovered an amazingly realistic viewing experience.

We welcome you to a virtual gallery setting where all the paintings can be seen on walls, for you to walk, stop, admire – from a distance or from up close. We hope you will take this virtual walk thru this gallery with your friends and fellow artists, connected by speaker and in front of a screen. We are delighted that our judge of awards was able to have a gallery experience, as well as access to high-resolution images.

We continue to reach out to Chicago artists, curators and gallery owners to jury and judge our member exhibitions. This year we asked artist Mat Barber Kennedy to jury and gallery owner Aron Packer to judge the show. Both have been active in Chicago’s art scene for most of their art careers. I hope our pastel exhibition has exposed them to the diversity of the pastel medium and that we will increase our exposure and involvement in the Chicago art scene.

Most importantly, congratulations to all members whose art is hanging on these walls. Thanks to all members for painting in pastel, for sharing your artwork and for supporting this society.

Special thanks to our webmaster, Randy Karey, for making this exhibition a “reality.”

For over twenty years Mat Barber Kennedy has been drawing and painting aging machines, tools and buildings, constructed in layers, adapted over generations, and decaying in pieces. He’s fascinated by junctions of materials and by the corrosive relationship between designed objects and the passage of time.

A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolors, he was awarded the Turner Medal in London in 2008.

www.matbarberkennedy.com

Starting in the late 80’s as an American folk art dealer, Aron Packer built his early career focusing on outsider and self taught artists. His early venue was an apartment gallery, and he became known for a broad yet unusual vision.

He added contemporary art and established his first public gallery in 1992 in Chicago’s Wicker Park, joining an alternative gallery scene. As business forces changed over the past 25+ years, Packer migrated to locations in River North and the West Loop, continuing to expand his notable group of artists.

In 2015 he closed Packer Schopf Gallery on West Lake Street after nearly a decade of ambitious shows. Currently Aron Packer Projects has a permanent pop-up space in the offices of the Chicago Gallery News.

www.packergallery.com

Mat Barber Kennedy Aron Packer

CPP

STROKIN’ 8

AWARDS

CEREMONY

-7--6-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

EVELYN BRODYChicago, IL

Deux Soeurs14 x 16.5 $2800

EVELYN BRODYChicago, IL

My Woman From Tokyo38 x 26 $4000

LINDA BROWNRocky River, OH

Footsteps #1319.5 x 25.5 $3500 DOTTY CARRINGI

Elgin, ILA Good Read13 x 10 $900

TED FUKAMokena, IL

Backlit12 x 14.5 $1000

SUSAN MARIE GOMBUSChesterton, IN

African Burchell’s Zebras9 x 12 $325

JESSICA FINEChicago, IL

At the d’Orsay29 x 21 $5200

LINDA BROWNRocky River, OH

Footsteps #1419.5 x 25.5 $4500

-9--8-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

JUDY GROCHOWSKISt. Francis, WI

Sandman14 x 11.25 $500

PAMELA HAMILTONGeneva, IL

After the Rain Comes the Sun16 x 18 $1300

PAMELA HAMILTONGeneva, IL

January Thaw10 x 8 $500

MENG-LUNGI HSIEHBrooklyn, NY

Caught20 x 26 $2500

TATIJANA JACENKIWGlenview, IL

Blue Dress12 x 18 $600

TATIJANA JACENKIWGlenview, IL

Bowing To The Inevitable30 x 22 $1800

SUSAN FRANCES JOHNSONRichton Park, IL

Memories of Mom12 x 9 $350

COSETTE KOSIBALakewood Ranch, FL

Wetlands10 x 20 $1000

-11--10-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

PAULA KUEHLMcHenry, ILGoofy Goats12 x 16 $300 MARGARET LARLHAM

San Diego, CALily in 6 Seconds18 x 24 $1800

JEAN LEWISGlenwood, IL

Crowning Glory28 x 22 $1300

ROBERTA MALKINLincolnwood, ILFamily Portrait28 x 22 $400

CAROL MELNYKIndian Head Park, IL

Clouds Change the View12 x 9 $475

ROBERTA MALKINLincolnwood, ILThe Committee22 x 28 $400

MARGARET LARLHAMSan Diego, CA

Rain Bird16 x 12 $1100

CAROL MELNYKIndian Head Park, IL

Hello from Navajo National Monument

20 x 16 $575

-13--12-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

NANCIE KING MERTZChicago, IL

Alley in Assisi16 x 12 $1400

NANCIE KING MERTZChicago, IL

Light Distance28.5 x 16 $2225

JACQUELINE MEYERSONMacungie, PA

Mah Jongg Tiles12 x 15 $1500

JACQUELINE MEYERSONMacungie, PA

Hang Ups14 x 18 $3800

BARBARA MOLINEOak Park, ILSun Chaser

31 x 23 $450

CHARLENE MOYChicago, IL

Hanging Out22 x 30 $625

NANCIE KING MERTZChicago, IL

Passing Fancy24 x 18 $3000

LYNN MILLERLake Zurich, IL

The Best of Alaska18 x 12 $650

-15--14-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

WILLIAM SCHNEIDERVillage of Lakewood, IL

Robber Baron20 x 16 $3250

BRIAN SAUERLANDPalatine, IL

Wine Country10 x 15 $650

DONNA SHORTTIndianapolis, INFlaxen Shower18 x 27 $2500

LUCY ELLEN SMITHChicago, IL

In Another World22 x 17 $1000

JOHN NICHOLASRiver Forest, IL

Money Creek Interlude24 x 18 $1200

JOHN NICHOLASRiver Forest, IL

Erev Tov Tel Aviv16 x 20 $1500

JOHN NICHOLASRiver Forest, IL

Captivated13 x 19 $1000

DON RYANCarol Stream, IL

Andromeda’s Pain20 x 16 $1850

-17--16-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

MARY LYNN SULLIVANDowners Grove, IL

Red Water Tower7 x 7 $2500

ARLENE TARPEYGlenview, IL

mC2014 x 12 $500

NORI THORNESedona, AZ

Trombone Mutes9 x 12 $600

NORI THORNESedona, AZ

Ink and Piercings14 x 11 $1000

CAROL STROCK WASSONUnion City, IN

Glove Love18 x 26 $3000

CAROL STROCK WASSONUnion City, INMoody Sunrise18 x 18 $1500

CAROL STROCK WASSONUnion City, IN

Last Light16 x 20 $2200

-19--18-

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS

MARY ANN TRZYNAFrankfort, IL

Autumn Light20 x 16 $900

ANU VEDAGIRIWindsor, ON, Canada

Location Location Location18 x 24 $1500

ANU VEDAGIRIWindsor, ON, Canada

Blue Jeans Behind The Scenes18 x 12 $850

Chicago Pastel Painters, like other pastel societies, has long relied on the generosity of art supply manufacturers and vendors to sponsor awards for our shows with materials and store certificates. This year, in light of the financial pressures imposed on our faithful sponsors, the CPP board of directors decided not to solicit awards, but rather to self-fund modest awards in their honor. In addition to the Heilman Designs Award of Excellence, for which we are purchasing a Heilman pastel box, we give thanks to and recognize (in alphabetical order):

AirFloat Systems Inc.Ampersand Art Supply

Apple Frame Studio Armadillo Art & Craft

Art De Triumph & Artful Framer Studios (Nancie King Mertz)Blick Art Materials

Chartpak (formerly Schmincke)Dakota Pastel

FILA Group (featuring Daler-Rowney, Canson, & Lyra)Great American ARTWORKS

Hahnemuhle USAH.K. Holbein

Terry Ludwig PastelsMethod Lights

Multimedia ArtboardKathie & Mike Newman

Old Town Triangle Art Center Osio-Brown

The Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine ArtPan Pastel (Colorfin LLC)

Pastel Journal (Peak Media Properties)Jack Richeson & Company

Royal Talens (Rembrandt Pastels)Speedball Art Products

Diane Townsend PastelsUART Paper

We separately express our thanks to Jack Richeson & Company for supporting our Fall 2020 Zoom demos by providing supplies to presenters Nancie King Mertz, Mark Price, and William Schneider.

STATEMENT OF RecogNitioN to our AWARD SPONSORS

-21--20-

the WINNERS... with CommeNts by the Judge of Awards

CPP BEST OF SHOW Nancie King Mertz – Light DistanceVery great handling of the medium, along with a stellar composition. It was loose and tight at the same time. Great that the softness of the pastel can collide with the industrial. Well deserved. Had a hard time choosing between that and Passing Fancy.

CPP AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Anu Vedagiri – Blue Jeans Behind the ScenesThis composition was also just right. The pastel felt like watercolor for me. I don’t know if it’s bad to say that or not. The work had a beautiful softness to it.

CPP AWARD OF DISTINCTION Jacqueline Meyerson – Hang UpsThis is another work that had a photo-realistic quality. A straightforward and pleasing trompe l’oeil work. A super concentrated use of the pastel.

CPP MERIT AWARD Jean Lewis – Crowning GloryThe fact that this is a large work speaks to the power of pastels. The handling of the skin tone with the luminosity is towering. And the slightly less in focus “crown” is well-played.

CPP MERIT AWARD Linda Brown – Footsteps #14I loved this work. Really captured the shimmer of the snow in conjunction with light and shadow. Clearly you can see the strokes on some of the lightest shimmers but works so well as a whole. Tight and loose again working nicely.

CPP MERIT AWARD Mary Lynn Sullivan – Red Water TowerAlso loved this intimate work. A very tight composition, with the nicest soft edge with the pastel. Great classic style with the perspective, with the trees setting off the earth tones.

CPP MERIT AWARD Susan Gombus – African Burchell’s ZebrasA black and white tour-de-force. Very complicated handling of the organic striping! So photographic also which I personally love. Difficult to do animals and not have it be cliché, but this transcends that issue.

CPP HONORABLE MENTION Evelyn Brody – My Woman from TokyoI enjoyed the power of this strong figure in the softness and light of this gallery space. The pose with its quiet “decisive moment”, and the green op art plaid jumping out from the impressionistic space really worked for me.

CPP HONORABLE MENTION Lucy Ellen Smith – In Another WorldThis is the 3rd piece I have picked with a cell phone in the work. Really says something about our culture, and my choices. I love that pastel can keep up to date capturing our current time. Lucy’s piece has the great dreamy quality I love about Pastel.

CPP HONORABLE MENTION Don Ryan – Andromeda’s PainPastel and the nude figure have a long history, and this is an intense handling of this Greek myth. The deft touch of pastel is concise and beautiful. The composition is thoughtful and so perfectly laid out. Really a great work.

CPP HONORABLE MENTION Pamela Hamilton – After the RainQuiet and discreet with traditional play of light and shadow. Color choices are laid out nicely. I wanted to choose a classic style landscape in my picks, and this is certainly a strong one.

CPP HONORABLE MENTION Carol Strock Wasson – Glove LoveThis is my last and lively award. I loved the hand and work reference regarding pastel. Lots of handwork in this medium! The bold color variation of the gloves on a line with a washed-out active color field is successful. Makes me think of some of the most subtle pop art of California.

Congratulations All!Aron Packer

-23--22-

CPP OFFICERS & Committee Chairs

2020

PRESIDENT Tatijana Jacenkiw, CPP-M

VICE-PRESIDENT Brian Sauerland, CPP-D

EXHIBITIONS Mike Barret Kolasinski, CPP-M

TREASURER Arlene Tarpey, CPP

SECRETARY Evelyn Brody, CPP-D

NEWSLETTER Dotty Carringi, CPP-D

WEB DESIGN Randy Karey

MEMBERSHIP Ellyn Lanz

PUBLIC RELATIONS Nancie King Mertz, CPP-M

PRESIDENT EMERITUS Jessica Fine, CPP-M

“It was very fun to judge the show. Judging is always a challenge but particularly with pastel, as it is such a difficult medium to handle, and thus to judge. These juried works covered a wide variety of styles as one would expect, and if anything I saw many pieces I didn’t expect to be approached with the genre.

“There were also many works I would have felt deserved some mentions, including the tattoo parlor piece by Nori Thorne and the water pieces by Margaret Larlham, to name a couple.

Thanks to Matt Barber Kennedy for doing the first round of judging. It was a pleasure.”

Best,

Aron Packer

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Catalog Design: Dotty Carringi

CHICAGO PASTELPAINTERS

www.ChicagoPastelPainters.org